Vocabulary
What is the name for everything that exists in space, including stars and planets?
universe
How many planets are in our solar system?
8
How many phases does the Moon have?
8
How many seasons are there? What are they?
4
Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring
What do scientists use to see faraway objects in space?
telescope
What do we call a system made of the sun and the planets that revolve around it?
the solar system
What planet do we live on?
Earth
What causes the ocean’s tides on Earth?
the Moon’s gravity
What causes the seasons to change?
the tilt of Earth and its orbit around the sun?
What do we call a man-made object that orbits a planet to help gather data?
satellite
A group of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity is called what?
galaxy
The sun’s gravity keeps the planets doing what?
revolving in orbit
Does the Moon make its own light?
no, it reflects sunlight
In what season is the Northern Hemisphere tilted toward the sun?
summer
What is a chunk of rock that orbits the sun, mostly found between Mars and Jupiter?
asteroid
What is the path a planet takes around the sun called?
an orbit
What line does Earth spin on, causing day and night?
an axis
How many days does it take for the Moon to orbit Earth?
29 days
What happens to the length of days in winter?
they get shorter
What space object has a glowing tail and is made of ice and dust?
comet
What invisible force keeps us on Earth and keeps planets in orbit?
What is gravity?
Can you name all 8 planets in our solar system?
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
What do we call the Moon when it appears fully lit?
the full moon
What causes day and night on Earth?
Earth’s rotation on its axis
What are stars grouped together in patterns called?
constellations